Ex-congressional staffer charged with lying to VA about Iraq injuries

Dec. 6, 2013 - 02:39PM
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SALT LAKE CITY — A former staffer for U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah has been charged with lying about being injured in the Iraq war to collect disability benefits.

Prosecutors on Thursday filed a 15-count indictment against Gilbert Prado of West Valley City for alleged wire fraud and making false statements.

The eight wire fraud counts stem from monthly disability payments Prado received from August 2011 to March 2012 totaling $18,000.

The 49-year-old Prado is accused of “falsely representing” to Veterans Affairs that he was injured during combat in Iraq in 2006. Prosecutors haven’t challenged the fact that Prado served in the military.

The indictment said Prado lied during his VA evaluation for benefits when he claimed an improvised explosive device exploded 40 feet away from him, throwing him against a truck. Prado said the blast left him with a concussion, broken ribs, vision problems, headaches and memory loss.

Prosecutors also said Prado falsely claimed he had recurring nightmares about shooting and killing two men, and injured his elbows while breaking down doors during searches.

A phone number listed for Prado was disconnected Friday. No attorney was listed for him in court records.

The VA determined in 2009 that Prado had post-traumatic stress disorder, and he received monthly disability benefits. He requested an increase in benefits the next year, citing injuries to his brain and elbows, but the agency denied the request.

The VA did grant his request for an increase in benefits in 2011, the indictment said.

Prado landed a two-year paid position in Chaffetz’s Provo field office through the Wounded Warrior Project. A 2011 congressional office directory shows Prado worked on constituent issues for Chaffetz.

The Republican congressman told The Deseret News that his office became concerned about the veracity of Prado’s story and referred the case to federal authorities. Chaffetz said he couldn’t offer further details because it was a personnel issue.

It’s unclear when Prado joined and left Chaffetz’s office, thought a 2010 Deseret News story about Prado notes he was working for Chaffetz that July.

Chaffetz’s office did not immediately return a message left by The Associated Press on Friday.